Mechanical pocket lighter



March 9, 1954 N 2,671,329

MECHANICAL POCKET LIGHTER Filed Nov. 29, 1950 Patented Mar. 9, 1954UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims priority, application GermanyDecember 27, 1949 2 Claims.

This invention is concerned with a mechanical lighter having a boxlikeactuating element which encloses the operating mechanism and which islinked therewith in such a manner that downward pressure exerted thereoncauses displacement thereof in a direction substantially in parallelwith the top of the lighter casing, thereby operating the flint wheeland also displacing the wick-cap carrier into open position.

Mechanical lighters are known in which the flint wheel and wick-capcarrier are mounted on the same axis and are operated by an actuatingmember moving over the top or cover or the lighter body or casing. Inthe known structures, the flint wheel axis, the pivot of a retaininglever which holds the actuating member on the top of the lighter casing,and the pivots connecting the actuating member to the retaining leverand the wick-cap carrier form a four-point linkage. Lighters of thistype are operated by drawing back the actuating member by the thumb ofthe hand holding the lighter, whereby a spring attached at one end tothe pivot connecting the actuating member to the retaining lever and atthe other end to the top of the lighter, is extended and, after releaseof the thumb pressure on the actuating member, returns the lattertogether with the wick-cap carrier into the original closed position.

A disadvantage of this type of lighter, in addition to its complicatedmechanical construction and to having parts exposed, is that, when thelighter is actuated, the actuating member is made to move backward andat the same time tilt obliquely downward, in such a manner that theoperators thumb tends to slip oil. The thumb is also in an unnatural,strained position. Lighters of this type have not, therefore, found muchfavor with the public.

It has been proposed to obviate this disadvantage by an arrangement inwhich the actuating member moves in a slot in a guide frame secured tothe top of the lighter casing, an additional tension member beingprovided between the actuating member and the wick-cap carrier, whichactuates the flint wheel in such manner that thelighter is operated bypressing the actuating member down on the top of the lighter casing. Incontradistinction to the previously mentioned structure, the motion ofthe actuating member is in this embodiment in a forward and oblique- 1yupward direction, instead of backward and obliquely downward. However,such position and operation also fail to correspond to the naturalposition of the thumb in exerting the required pressure; and,furthermore, such arrangement of the mechanism requires the provision ofadditional tensioning members and linkages which not only increase theproduction cost but, in particular, impair the reliability of operation.

A particular disadvantage of the type of lighter just described is,further, that the manner of connecting the actuating member to themechanism increases the resistance to its required motion, since thedisplacement entailed in its angular position relative to the top of thelighter casing causes the thumb to exert an increased pressure on thelatter instead of pressing in the contrary direction to reduce theresistance encountered. The total resistance to be overcome in operatingthe lighter is thus increased, and a considerable force is required toopen or actuate the lighter, rendering its operation more difiicult.

In addition, the construction of the parts and guide elements of thelighter mechanism is not the most favorable for the purpose, therebyfurther adversely afiecting the reliability of operation.

The present invention obviates the above-noted disadvantages by theprovision of an actuating mechanism based on the principle of afour-point linkage formed, respectively, by the axis of the flint wheel,the pivot of the retaining lever on the lighter casing, and the pivotsconnecting the actuating member to the retaining lever and to thewick-cap carrier, respectively.

In accordance with the invention, the two pivots connecting theactuating member to the wickcap carrier are located in normal positionof the actuating member slightly in front of and above the flint wheelaxis, while the pivots connecting the actuating member to the retaininglever are arranged approximately at the same level, and in such relationto the axis of the flint wheel and to the pivot of the retaining leverthat, when the lighter is operated, the actuating member is moved in adirection nearly parallel to the top of the lighter casing. Thiseliminates undesired additional pressure on the actuating member due toangular displacement thereof with reference to the top of the lightercasing, so that only the usual resistance has to be overcome, which ismainly that due to the pressure of the flint against 7 the flint wheel.Furthermore, the thumb is not required to assume any unnatural orconstrained position, but only to exert a naturally convenient downwardpressure.

The actuating member is suitably of boxlike shape, open at the bottomand closed at the top and one end, the inner faces of its side wallsbeing guided on a frame secured to the top of the lighter casing. Theauxiliary operating elements, such as rocker arms and spring, are thuscovered and an exceedingly compact arrangement is produced which doesnot exhibit any exteriorly protruding parts.

Another substantial advantage of the lighter made in accordance with theinvention is that the structure is exceedingly simple, the mechanismconsisting merely of the wick-cap carrier, actuating member, andspring-loaded retaining lever. The assembly of the parts is very simple.Complete reliability of action is assured, and repairs, which arefrequently necessary in the usual lighters, are practically excluded orat least held at a minimum.

The retaining lever, which is hinged at one end to the guide frame onthe lighter top and at the other end to the actuating member, issuitably made in one piece, e. g., in the form of a flat rocker arm.

Alternatively, the retaining lever may be in the form of a U-shapedmember, the free ends of which are so shaped as to form bearing eyes forthe pivot pin retaining the lever on the actuating member. The base isdirectly connected to the guide frame of the lighter mechanism. For thispurpose, a tongue is punched out of the bottom of the frame and bentupward to form an eye. For assembling, the base or the retaining leveris passed under the tongue of the guide frame and the latter is thenpressed down, so as to form a bearing.

The substantially parallel and consequently advantageous movement of theactuating member relative to the top of the lighter casing, ascontemplated by the present invention, may be further aided by forming ashallow depression in its upper surface, in which the thumb of the handoperating the lighter can conveniently rest.

The invention provides a simple and consequently economical means ofinsuring a reliable and easy actuation of the lighter and satisfactoryguidance of the actuating member. To reduce friction, it is recommendedto make the retaining lever of steel, and the pivots of suitablematerial, e. g., of brass. The structure may be further enhanced bymaking the retaining lever in the form of a U-shaped wire and coilingthe free ends thereof so as to act as elastically disposed bearing eyeswhich insure gentle contact with the inside walls of the actuatingmember.

The above-noted objects and additional objects and features will appearfrom the detailed description which will presently be rendered withreference to the accompanying drawings showing examples of pocketlighters. In these drawings,

Fig. 1 shows an elevation of an example of lighter in the closedposition;

Fig. 2 indicates the lighter mechanism of Fig. 1 in open position, withsome parts in section;

Fig. 3 illustrates another embodiment, in open or actuated position,with some parts shown in elevation and others in sectional view; and

Fig. 4 is a view of the lighter, as seen from the left or rear of thestructure shown in Fig. 3, with the rear end of the slide mechanismremoved.

In all figures, numeral I indicates the lighter casing, 2 the guideframe disposed on the top thereof, 3 the common pivot for the flintwheel shown at 4, and 5 the wick-cap carrier. The latter is connected tothe actuating membe i at the points 6 which, in the closed position ofthe lighter, are situated slightly in front of and above the flint wheelpivot 3. The actuating member I is pivotally connected at 8 atapproximately the same level as the points 6 to a retaining lever l0 andI3, respectively. A tension spring 9 is secured at one end, at l2, tothe top of the lighter casing I and at the other end to the pivot 8 ofthe retaining lever. When the lighter is actuated by pressing down theactuating member I, this spring is extended and, after release of thepressure, returns the actuating member and therewith the wick-capcarrier 5 into the normal closed position.

In the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the retaining lever H), whichis pivoted at 8 to the member 1, is in one piece and is in the form of aflat rocking arm which is pivoted at H to the guide frame 2. Thetensioning spring 9 is attached to the guide frame 2 by a separate pin[2.

In the structure according to Figs. 3 and 4, the retaining lever [25 ismade in the form of a U-spring, both arms of which are bent at theirends to form short coils l4 and I5 which act as bearings for the pivotpin 8. These coils are resilient and bear gently in axial directionagainst the inner walls of the actuating member, thus assisting inholding it in proper position at rest as well as during itsdisplacement. The base is joining the two arms of the U- shapedretaining lever I3 acts in the guide frame 2 directly as a bearing forthe actuating member. Upon assembling the mechanism, the base it isplaced behind a tongue I! punched out of the guide frame 2, and thelatter is then pressed down, forming a journal therefor. The spring 9returns the actuating member 1, after release thereof, into the initialnormal position, in the same manner as already described in connectionwith Figs. 1 and 2.

In the structure according to Figs. 1 and 2, the stop which limits thedisplacement of the actuating member I and. the wick-cap carrier 5 isthe rear wall l8 of the guide frame 2 against which the rocker arm H!comes to abut. In the structure according to Figs. 3 and 4, there isprovided a recess 19 in the guide frame 2 against which the rear end ofthe wick-cap carrier 5 abuts in open position thereof, the recess thusfunctioning as a stop.

The actuating member I is in either embodiment a box-shaped elementwhich is closed on top and at the rear end, fitting on both side wallson the guide frame 2 and enclosing the lighter mechanism, so that theoutside of the lighter is smooth and without exteriorly protrudingparts, thus appreciably enhancing the appearance and reliability of themechanism. The pivot points 3, 6, 8 and II of the lighter mechanism areso arranged, in accordance with the invention, that the movement of themember 'i by the pressure of the operators thumb is nearly parallel tothe top of the lighter casing I. This arrangement of the elements of theactuating mechanism, in conjunction with the simplicity of construction,in articular of the retaining lever -as a U-shaped element, insures notonly an easy and reliable operation, but also a very compact structurewhich can be produced and sold at reduced cost. The friction is less,and the operators thumb is not required to exert any unnecessarypressure.

The operation is further facilitated by the provision of the shallowdepression 20 in the top of the actuating member 1, for accommodatingthe thumb, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Changes may be made within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a mechanical pocket lighter having a casing forming a lighterfluid reservoir from the top wall of which extends at one end thereof aduct containing a wick and having a frame providing a bottom walldisposed on said top wall and upwardly directed side walls and having aflint wheel rotatably mounted between the side walls of said frame atthe inner end thereof which is adjacent said wick duct and having across-sectionally generally U-shaped actuating member forming a top walland side walls extending therefrom which is disposed in invertedposition on said frame rearwardly of said wick duct with its side wallsdepending downwardly and overlapping the outside of the upwardlydirected side walls of said frame and having a wick cap carrier which ispivotally linked with said actuating member at the inner end thereofwhich faces said wick duct, a device for linking the rear end of saidactuating member with said frame to dispose it thereon in a normalposition extending substantially in parallel with the top wall of saidcasing and with said wick cap carrier extending therefrom in closeposition in a substantially common plane for displacement relative tosaid frame responsive to downward pressure exerted thereon which causessuch actuating member to move downwardly and simultaneously rearwardlysideways away from said flint wheel and substantially in parallel withthe top of said casing so as to move said wick cap carrier angularlyinto open position and to rotate said flint wheel to strike a spark forigniting the wick; said device comprising a retainer member having abase which extends transversely within said frame at the bottom andsubstantially at the rear end thereof, legs extending angularly upwardlyfrom said base integral therewith in the manner of the legs of a U, thefree end of each of said legs being shaped to form a coil rounding saidpin as a bearing therefor and the laterally directed free outer ends ofsaid coils resiliently abutting the inside of the depending side wallsof said actuating member, and a spring having one end anchored on saidbearing pin and the other on the bottom wall of said frame which exertsa pull on said bearing pin and therewith on said actuating member torestore such actuating member to its normal position responsive torelease of the pressure exerted thereon to operate it to actuatedposition, said bottom wall having an eyelet struck therefrom forming ajournal pivotally securing the base of said retainer member to saidframe.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, comprising,

an extension projecting rearwardly from said wick cap carrier, a recess.being formed in a side wall of said frame to receive said extension instop engagement therewith when said wick cap carrier is moved to openposition by the operation of said actuating member.

HERMANN ZAHN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,530,328 Fortin Nov. 14, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 454,322 Canada Jan. 25, 1949 512,127 Great Britain Aug. 29, 1939520,571 Great Britain Apr. 26, 1940 556,910 Germany Aug. 16, 1932611,471 Great Britain Oct. 29, 1948 612,556 Germany Apr. 2'7, 1935

